DBC: Disney Urban Legends Pt: 1
FLORIDA MAN: Howdy folks, and welcome to Dashboard Chats!
CHEESEHEAD: Named so because we are recording this from our dashboard on the drive between interviews to discuss the tales and urban legends that aren’t fit for a mic.
FM: That’s right! Ain’t every topic ripe for recordin’ but that don’t make them any less interesting. With that, I’m Harrison, the Florida Man.
CH: And I’m Aaron, the Cheesehead. Today we come to you from Interstate-4, or I-4 as it’s locally known, where the only thing more common than Mickey Ears are actual vermin.
FM: Ah, home sweet home. And speaking of them Mickey Ears, today we’re gonna discuss some of the urban legends surrounding Walt Disney World.
CH: Hotdog! And this is something we are somewhat of an authority on as we both are former former Cast Members.
FM: You’re absolutely right. I worked in the entertainment department for over 12 years and boy howdy if that rumor mill don’t spin.
CH: Now, before we get started, there are many a rumor of Cast Members and guests becoming injured or even killed in the parks, and this just isn’t something we’re comfortable discussing out of respect to others. On that note however, I will dispel the first and one very prevalent rumor: that people aren't allowed to be declared dead on Disney Property. Because that is simply untrue.
FM: I think part of this stems from EMTs and paramedics doing all they can until they arrive at a hospital before finally declaring someone as deceased. Another urban legend often brought up is the Disney Tunnel. There is absolutely a tunnel beneath Magic Kingdom, it’s no myth. In fact, if you have the money, you can purchase a tour of the Magic Kingdom tunnel. At least the nicer sections of the tunnel because most of it is pretty dank. What most people don’t know about the tunnel is that it isn’t a basement. In fact, the tunnel was created first and is ground-level. The Magic Kingdom Theme Park was built on top of the tunnel, making it technically the second story up.
CH: Yah, you can go onto Youtube and find at least two segments of Oprah where she visits the MK Tunnel.
FM: Additionally, there is a second, much smaller tunnel, at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. It’s beneath the Future World section.
CH: One of my favorite urban legends of WDW is called Discovery Island. An island just out in the water in between the MK entrance and Fort Wilderness. It was build to be a research facility. Snakes in jars, frogs, and what not. Like a research, science base for guest to visit. But they had to close it down due to amoebas in the water. However, the facility still stands and a man was even arrested after being caught living out on the island for two weeks.
FM: I think the amoebas in the water is the same reason why the former Disney water park, River County was forced to close down. Much like Discovery Island, much of this defunct attraction still remains and is frequented by urban explorers.
CH: Yah, but I wouldn’t recommend visiting it. Word on the street is that you’ll be arrested and receive a life-time ban from Walt DIsney World. So, trespass at your own risk.
FM: My favorite rumor is that Tinkerbelle who flies around during the nightly fireworks show was once played by a tethered Asian man. Considering that Tinkerbelle flies in the downward angle. WDW was build in the 70s when cameras and video were a thing. There should be a lot more physical evidence to support this and there just isn’t.
CH: Walt Disney’s frozen head is often to said to be housed here at Walt Disney World.
FM: Gotta call BS on this one. Walt was long dead before WDW was even opened. Plus, why would you risk freezing organs in one of the hottest states in the US? It’s just ridiculous when you think about it. Also.. why just his head? Why not freeze his whole body?
CH: Right? What’s the point of just the head? Maybe they were hoping for a scenario like that Robot Chicken skit where they fasten Walt’s head on a robot body.
FM: That’s terrifying. Now, I’ve actually done my homework on this particular topic. Walt dies in 1966 of lung cancer since he was a chain smoker, hence that disney point with the two fingers. The origin of this rumor of freezing Walt’s body dates back to a 1969 French magazine article where disgruntled former animators of Walt’s said it in jest. From there, the rest is speculative history. Walt’s own daughter dismissed this, as Walt was cremated. His grave is actually at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA.
CH: We actually visited the site of his grave and got in trouble by security for looking at his plot...which was outside in the grass with an open gate leading to it. Twice we got yelled at that day. The first was for “breaking into the mausoleum.” Which is BS.
FM: Yea, we casually parked, walked through an unlocked door that read, “entrance,” and scouted Clark Gable, Red Skelton, and Elizabeth Taylor’s sites before security finally rushed us down and accused us of deliberately breaking an entering. Not our fault the door said “entrance” and was unlocked.
CH: Thank you all for joining us for Dashboard Chats. We’ll be doing each week between Talegate episodes to be sure to stay tuned. Furthermore, we’d love to answer any questions you might have regarding any of the topics we’ve discussed or any questions & insight you may have on your own.
FM: Just email us at Thetalegatepodcast@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram @thetalegatepodcast for photos, cast info, updates and more.
CH: See you later, Talegaters!